tracked leader, led 2nd, hit 14th, pushed along and headed before 3 out, chased winner, ridden and no impression when hung right before next, well held
held up in close 5th place, not fluent at 5th, headway into 3rd before 4 out until pushed along before next, weakened soon after
led until 2nd, chased leader until 12th, chased leaders, outpaced before 4 out
raced keenly, held up in close 4th on inside, headway on inside in 3rd before 3 out, disputing well held 2nd next until no extra in 3rd final 100 yards
tracked leaders out wide, went 2nd 12th, led before 3 out, clear from next, good jump last, stayed on strongly
This looks tricky, despite the small field. What A Moment is 18lb lower than for his last success, despite having been raised for a narrow defeat at Plumpton. However, three miles around here may be an insufficient test of stamina. BIG DIFFERENCE can almost be guaranteed to run his race and certainly wouldn’t be winning out of turn so gets the nod ahead of recent Taunton winner Ebony Gale, who is 4lb higher, and Peur De Rien, who is trying a new trip after a break. Thomas Shelby slips further down the weights but would have preferred easier ground.
Big Difference (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Led, disputed lead after 3rd, not fluent 4th, chased leader after the 5th, pressed leader 12th, disputed lead 13th, pushed along and led narrowly 4 out, pressed 3 out and 2 out, headed last and no extra run-in, 2nd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Event Of Sivola (10-8) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
What A Moment (IRE) 10-3 (11-9) Led, hit and headed 4th, led again 3 out, ridden and headed soon after last, rallied towards finish, 2nd of 7, shd behind Dylanseoghan (10-0) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Thomas Shelby (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division on outside, headway 13th, weakened before 4 out, fell last, at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Ebony Gale 6-1 (11-5) Chased leaders on inside, mistake 13th, rallied chasing leaders after next, led going well between horses soon after 3 out, blundered badly next, soon recovered and stayed on well, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating Dentley De Mee (11-5) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Peur De Rien (FR) 13-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, led 10th, ridden approaching last, kept on gamely until headed final 100yds, 2nd of 6, nk behind Prudhomme (11-12) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
